Business: Top Stories

Merlinos' Belvedere expands offerings

Merlinos' Belvedere adds NFL bar and lounge special during NFL games

New seating in the 'old front' area near the bar at Merlinos' Belvedere. (Carie Canterbury / Daily Record)

Merlino

For more than 65 years, Merlinos' Belvedere has served the community and visitors from across Colorado and neighboring states its fine Italian cuisine, famous "Belvedere" salad and gourmet homemade desserts.

The restaurant continues to offer the same fine steaks, seafood and entrees, but owners Mike and Cathie Merlino are shaking things up a bit.

The restaurant now offers an NFL Bar and Lounge special during NFL games played on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays. During the games, Mike Merlino said customers can enjoy 35-cent wings, $3.50 large Schooners of draft beer and eight different sliders.

"Those wings are the cheapest in town, and they are the most meaty," Merlino said. "They are really nice and the people who have had them really enjoy them."

Merlino said the bar was filling up during happy hour, so to make room for more patrons, the three booths behind the bar seating area were lifted to bar height so customers would feel more a part of the bar scene. Now, the bar area can accommodate 31 guests. Merlino added two new TVs in the bar area for customers to watch games, in addition to the three TVs in the "grotto" lounge.

Happy Hour is in the bar and lounge areas from 5-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 4:30-7 p.m. Fridays. Happy Hour menu items include $2 small draft beers; $3 house wines; $2 wells; and a bar small-plate menu.

Weekend gourmet specials begin Thursdays and are offered while supplies last. On tap for this weekend, and until the sauce runs out, Merlino is offering his penne pasta with his own garden heirloom tomato pasta sauce with five-ounce tender dark chicken meat for $21.95.

"I picked 40 heirloom tomatoes; they are to die for," Merlino said. "I roasted my garlic that I planted in a certified-organic garden, I added my own sweet basil, and I add it all together with the spices to make this really special sauce."